Portable floor



C. A. DUKE PORTABLE FLOOR April 23, 1929.

Fil ed Nov. 29, 927

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES CHARLES ANDRE DUKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

PORTABLE FLOOR.

Application filed November 29, 1927.

The present invention relates to portable floors. and aims to provide a portable floor construction having novel means for holding the floor boards in position with reference to one another and the joists, in order that the boards may be readily assembled and separated, without the necessity for drilling holes in the boards or driving nails or other securing elements through such boards.

The improvements are intended particularly for portable floors such as temporary stands, platforms, and the like, whereby the boards may be used repeatedly, for purpose of economy.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a floor embodying the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of two floor boards and one of the clips for the edgewise engagement of the boards.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the end joint of two boards.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding with Fig. 3 illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the two plates of the joint shown in Fig. 4.

The floor boards 7 may be of any suitable width and length, being provided in units of suitable dimensions. Said boards extend across and rest upon joists 8 of any suitable kind. As shown, the joist-s are of channel metal. but I-beams or other structural elements may be employed for the joists.

Transverse channel members 8 are fastened by nails. screws or other securing elements to the lower surfaces of the boards transversely thereof, and are adapted to fit astride the joists 8, thereby positioning the boards on said joists and also preventing the boards from sliding lengthwise of themselves.

U-shaped clips 10 are fastened by nails,

Serial No. 236,512.

screws or other securing elements to one edge of each board 7 and are adapted to fit astride the adjacent edges of the companion boards, as seen in Fig. 2. The boards are thus fitted together edge to edge, which prevent relative vertical displacement of the adjacent edges of the boards.

Plates 11 and 12 are fastened by nails, screws or other securing elements to the lower surface of each board at the opposite ends thereof. The plate 11 projects from the corresponding end of the board so as to overlap the abutting end of the adjacent board, as seen in Fig. 3, thereby supporting the end of the last named board. The plate 12 has a downward offset projecting portion 13 to overlap the plate 11, whereby the end of each board is supported against depression by the end of the other board. In this manner the ends of the boards are prevented from being displaced vertically relatively to one another.

hen the boards are assembled edge to edge and end to end on the joists, the floor or platform thus provided will be strong and substantial. without nailing or otherwise fastening the boards on the joists, and after the use of the floor has passed, the boards may be separated and used subsequently.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the plate 11' has a downwardly offset portion 14 with an opening 15 through which the portion 13' of the plate 12 is inserted, so that the projecting port-ion of each plate extends under and overlaps the other plate, thereby providing an end joint which is even more substantial than the one shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, this joint prevents the direct endwise separation of the boards, and the boards must be swung upwardly slightly relatively to one another to bring them together or separate them longitudinally.

The elements 9, 10, 11, 12, 12 and 13' may be of sheet metal of suitable gage. so as to be economically manufactured, and the boards 7 may have plain edges and ends, without tongue and groove joints, or the like, thereby reducing the possibility of the boards being injured in the handling thereof.

The plates 11. 12 and 11, 12 may also be used for connecting seat and other boards end to end.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A portable floor comprising joists, boards extending across the joists and arranged end 5 to end and edge to edge, members secured to the lower surfaces of the boards and fitting over said joists, members attached to edges of the boards to engage the edges of the adjacent boards to prevent relative vertical displacement of the boards and plates attached to the end portions of the boards and extending therefrom to support the ends of the boards each from the other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

CHARLES ANDRE DUKE. 

